3 Common Forms of Contraception

Without proper education or resources provided, unplanned pregnancies can be difficult to handle. Remain aware of what options you have to prevent unwanted or untimely pregnancies so you can become pregnant when you are emotionally and financially prepared to do so.

Barrier Methods

One way to avoid unplanned pregnancy Des Plaines, IL is with condoms and other barriers. These forms of contraception work to prevent sperm from ever reaching an egg to fertilize. Male condoms are fitted thin tubes, usually made of latex, that can be worn over the penis to prevent sexually transmitted infections and reduce the chance of contraception during penetrative sex. Male condoms are only 98% effective in preventing contraception when used correctly. Condoms come in a variety of sizes and types to fit individual needs and preferences. If the user has any allergies to latex, they also come in a variety of other materials that are more allergy-safe like lambskin and polyisoprene. Female condoms are made similar, but they are instead inserted into the vaginal canal before penetrative sex. Other barrier forms of contraception include spermicide or cervical caps. Most barrier contraceptives can be acquired in a drug store or from a healthcare professional.

Hormonal Methods

In addition to barriers, there are hormonal methods for birth control that tend to provide a higher contraceptive success rate.  Hormonal birth controls come in the form of pills, shots, patches, and implants. These forms of contraception release hormones into a woman’s body to delay or prevent ovulation. While these methods tend to offer higher success rates, it is important to remain aware of the potential side effects and health implications. When taking the birth control pill, ovulation shuts off to prevent an egg from being fertilized. However, when a woman does not ovulate, her body cannot produce progesterone and her organic cycle is thrown off. Therefore, artificial hormones and hormonal contraception like the pill have been correlated to loss of bone density and other potentially harmful side effects. It is important to discuss your personal risk factors and options for contraception with a trusted medical professional.

Fertility Awareness Method

To avoid artificial hormones, you can instead use the fertility awareness method to naturally track your cycle and use it as a form of birth control. There is a particular window of time during your cycle where you are fertile and more likely to become pregnant. While this method takes some time to learn, the fertility awareness method is free, accessible, and can be over 90% effective when used correctly. Fertility awareness records things like a woman’s basal body temperature, cervical mucus, cervix height, luteinizing hormone (LH) testing, and more to track the entire menstrual cycle. By learning the fertility awareness method, you will be able to know when and if you are ovulating, and on which days you are fertile. On these days, you may choose to avoid sex or use another form of contraception like condoms or barriers. To avoid human error and get to know your body, it is a good idea to track your cycle for at least 3 months or more before relying on it for birth control. The more track different aspects of your cycle, the more accurate your charts will be.

Find which form of contraception works best for you to avoid unplanned pregnancy and better prepare for your family’s future.